Behind the Screen: Understanding the Challenges of Video Game Localization in Türkiye

Abstract

This paper emphasizes the fact that the game localization is a complicated process which is beyond being a linguistic translation only and involves various challenges in it. With this study, it is aimed to investigate the challenges in the game localization process that the translators in Türkiye have to deal with in a detailed way and to seek practical solutions for the translators to help them provide an enjoyable game experience to the local players in terms of fluency. The research was conducted by using a qualitative study method, and with a survey which was done with 15 translators who are either professionals or newcomers to the industry in the field. The data collected through the survey is categorized in 5 main categories: the cultural challenges, the technical challenges, the challenges in the game localization market, meeting the player expectations as well as the quality and the qualification. In addition, each category is described in a detailed way with the subcategories and the views of the participants. The purpose of this study is to make an important contribution to the field by providing practical solutions to be able to improve and to facilitate the localization process for the translators in Türkiye, and to provide an increased knowledge about the field.

Keywords

• video game localization
• Türkiye
• cultural challenges
• technical challenges
• player expectations
• translation
• quality
• qualify
• market
• game localization specialists
• translators
• overcome

Perde Arkası: Türkiye’de Oyun Yerelleştirmenin Zorluklarını Anlamak

Abstract

Bu makale, oyun yerelleştirmenin sadece dilsel çevirinin ötesinde çeşitli zorlukları içeren karmaşık bir süreç olduğunu vurgulamaktadır. Bu çalışma ile Türkiye'deki çevirmenlerin oyun yerelleştirme sürecinde karşılaştıkları zorlukları ayrıntılı bir şekilde araştırmak ve çevirmenlerin yerel oyunculara akıcı bir oyun deneyimi sunmalarına yardımcı olacak pratik çözümler bulmak amaçlanmaktadır. Araştırma, nitel araştırma yöntemi kullanılarak ve bu alanda profesyonel/yeni başlayan 15 çevirmeni kapsayan bir anket aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Anket yoluyla toplanan veriler 5 ana kategoriye ayrılmıştır: kültürel zorluklar, teknik zorluklar, oyun yerelleştirme pazarındaki zorluklar, oyuncu beklentilerini karşılama, kalite ve nitelik. Ayrıca her kategori, alt kategoriler ve katılımcıların görüşleri ile ayrıntılı bir şekilde açıklanmıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye'deki çevirmenler için yerelleştirme sürecini iyileştirmek ve kolaylaştırmak için pratik çözümler sunarak alana önemli bir katkı sağlamak ve alan hakkında daha fazla bilgi sağlamaktır.

Keywords

• oyun yerelleştirme
• Türkiye
• kültürel zorluklar
• teknik zorluklar
• oyuncu beklentileri
• çeviri
• kalite
• nitelik
• piyasa
• oyun yerelleştirme uzmanları
• çevirmenler
• üstesinden gelmek

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